Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Banks - Regional / Unity Bancorp, Inc.

Unity Bancorp, Inc.

unty · NASDAQ Financial Services
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Ticker unty
Exchange NASDAQ
Sector Financial Services
Industry Banks - Regional
Employees 227
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FY2020 Annual Report · Unity Bancorp, Inc.
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2020 ANNUAL REPORT

UNITY BANCORP, INC. (Nasdaq: UNTY) is the 
holding company for Unity Bank, a commercial bank 
insured by the FDIC, headquartered in Clinton, New 
Jersey. The Bank offers complete deposit and lending 
solutions to businesses and consumers. 

Small Business is BIG here is a mantra the 
Bank lives and breathes. Unity delivers a holistic 
approach to business clients leveraging seasoned 
Commercial and SBA lending expertise with deposit 
products and services with the latest technology 
advantages. The Bank’s brand promise of Growing 
with You is applied to all Unity stakeholders. The 
Bank is dedicated to the growth of our communities, 
customers, employees and shareholders.

THE  BAN K’S  BR AND  PROMI SE   O F 

growing with you! 

IS APPLIED TO ALL UNITY STAKEHOLDERS.

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FI NAN C IAL HIGHLIGHTS
Amounts in thousands, except per share data 
and performance ratios

Year ended December 31,

2020

2019

2018

Selected Results of Operations
Interest income

$

78,915

$

75,648

$

67,263

Interest expense

Net interest income

Provision for loan losses

Noninterest income

Noninterest expense

Provision for income taxes

Net income

Per Share Data

Net income per common share - Basic

Net income per common share - Diluted

Book value per common share

Market value per common share

Cash dividends declared on common shares

Selected Balance Sheet Data

Assets

Loans

Allowance for loan losses

Securities

Deposits

Borrowed funds and subordinated debentures

Shareholders’ equity

Common shares outstanding

Performance Ratios

Return on average assets

Return on average equity

Efficiency ratio

Net interest margin

14,480

64,435

7,000

12,946

39,262

7,475

18,055

57,593

2,100

9,539

34,717

6,662

13,516

53,747

2,050

9,031

33,421

5,388

23,644

$

23,653

$

21,919

$

2.21

2.19

16.63

17.55

0.32

$

2.18

2.14

14.77

22.57

0.31

2.04

2.01

12.85

20.76

0.27

$

$

$ 1,958,914

$

1,718,942

$ 1,579,157

1,627,817

1,425,558

1,304,566

(23,105)

47,571

(16,395)

66,564

(15,488)

63,732

1,557,959

1,250,114

1,207,687

210,310

173,911

10,456

293,310

160,709

10,881

220,310

138,488

10,780

1.35 %

1.54 %

1.53 %

14.20

50.80

3.85

15.86

52.00

3.95

17.10

53.07

3.97

S
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Compounding crisis began a new decade that will 
not fade quickly from our memories. During such 
unprecedented times it is easy to be pessimistic 
and feel helpless. It is during these times that our 
commitment to small business and our community 
guides us. In 2020 we saw our duty to mobilize 
and help our customers tested. Although we had 
to pivot how we work, we continued to serve our 
customers and keep employees safe. Covid-19 
protocols were put in place. Customers received 
timely communications. In addition, training and 
support was provided on all the options at their 
disposal to ensure service was not disrupted.

ALTHOU GH WE  HAD  TO PI VOT  H OW 
WE WOR K , WE   CONTIN UE D  TO 
SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS  AND  KEEP 
EMPLOYEES SAFE.

We embraced the federal Paycheck Protection 
Program (PPP) and actively communicated 
with our customers to help them navigate the 
application process and provide needed support 
during this highly stressful time. We helped 
customers secure over 1,200 PPP loans totaling in 
excess of $140 million to provide their businesses 
with desperately needed funds. Staff members 
responded to the call and worked long hours from 
home to meet the program’s fast-paced deadlines. 
In addition, the bank has prudently worked 
with borrowers that were impacted hardest by 
Covid-19 and having difficulty meeting their 
contractual obligations. We are happy to report 
that the number of loans on payment deferrals 
have significantly declined during the fourth 
quarter.

 
 
Despite the challenges, the commercial 
lending division still grew 10% for the 
year.

Our Residential Mortgage Program achieved 
a record $450 million in mortgage originations, 
representing a 177% increase over the previous 
year. While experiencing a refinance boom, we 
continued to build relationships producing new 
purchase volume of 51% of total volume, almost 
10% higher than industry average; evidence that 
we gained market share on the purchase money 
mortgage side. Over $300 million of production 
was sold into the secondary market representing 
a significant increase over 2019. We are well 
positioned for continued growth in this division. 

We also reached out to our communities. We 
stepped in early to provide funds for a free-
standing Respiratory Illness Center to triage 
patients at Hunterdon Medical Center in March 
to meet surging demand. Many of the non-profits 
we support struggled with increasing needs 
and traditional funding events cancelled. We 
stepped in to support organizations in alternate 
ways and donations. We provided additional 
support to America’s Grow-A-Row, a non-
profit organization that grows and gleans fresh, 
healthy fruits and vegetables that are donated to 
those facing hunger throughout New Jersey. We 
recognize this increased need will not disappear 
as quickly as it arose. We have made an on-going 
pledge for additional assistance through 2021 to 
help those most vulnerable.

Our continued investment in technology 
allowed us to meet demands for electronic 
banking quickly and efficiently. Our 
well-established personal and business 
mobile banking apps continue to 
serve more customers. Our call 

center supported fast learning curves and an influx of help 
requests from customers utilizing these services more than ever 
before. We pivoted quickly to support employees working from home 

and implemented Teams for enhanced virtual collaboration.

Amid the volatile environment we delivered strong results. Our net interest 
margin stood up, one of the strongest in the state, at 3.85%. Record mortgage 
performance and expense control contributed significantly to a year-end ROA 
of 1.35%. Despite the challenges, we were able to keep non-performing assets 
to under 1%.

In 2020 Unity ranked 15th nationally on the American Banker magazine list 
of the Top 200 Publicly Traded Community Banks with less than $2 billion 
in assets. Unity was the top ranked New Jersey community bank on this 
respected industry list. Nationally 511 institutions fit the category for the 
list. Unity Bank has been on the list for five consecutive years. In addition, 
Unity Bank was named one of the best places to work in NJ for the fourth 
consecutive year by NJBiz. 

The unity of our employees provided tremendous strength and we are deeply 
thankful for their dedication. We appreciate the continued support of our 
customers, Board of Directors and shareholders. We share great hope for 2021 
and are committed to supporting all our communities as we heal and grow.

David D. Dallas
Chairman of the Board

James A. Hughes
President & CEO

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE

DIVIDENDS PER SHARE

$2.50

$2.00

$1.50

$1.00

$0.50

$0.00

$20.00

$15.00

$10.00

$ 5.00

$ 0.00

$0.35

$0.30

$0.25

$0.20

$0.15

$0.10

$0.05

$0.00

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

BOOK VALUE

MARKET PRICE

$25.00

$20.00

$15.00

$10.00

$ 5.00

$ 0.00

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

neighborhoods is what a community bank 
does…it is what Unity Bank does. We continued 
to strengthen and position our residential and 
commercial lending teams and processes in 2020 to 
enable us to better serve our customers in 2021 and 
beyond. 

S Supporting local people, their businesses and 
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Under challenging market conditions, to say the least, 
our residential lending team excelled. We achieved 
core commercial loan and deposit growth, where 
others contracted, and maintained solid credit quality 
backed by a top tier industry capital position to 
be able to weather additional or continued market 
turbulence should the need arise.

As always, we continue to focus on our customers, 
core products, existing territories, and to build and 
maintain deep relationships with strategic referral 
partners.

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LENDING PORTFOLIO

51%

Commercial
Loans

35%

98.08%

SBA
Loans

PPP
Loans

Consumer
Loans

3%

8%

9%

Performing

30-59 Days 

Delinquent

.96%

Seriously Delinquent

.96%

29%

Residential
Mortgage

Investment

65%

Owner

Occupied

 
5 YEAR LOAN GROWTH

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2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

0

$100

$200

$300

$400

$500

$700

$800

$900

in Millions

RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE 
DISTRIBUTION

RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE 
PERFORMANCE

Investment

SBA

Loans

PPP

Loans

Consumer

Loans

3%

8%

9%

29%

Residential

Mortgage

51%

Commercial

Loans

35%

98.08%

65%

Owner
Occupied

Performing

30-59 Days 
Delinquent

.96%

Seriously Delinquent

.96%

 
 
banking easier and safer for our customers.  

E We continue to invest in technology that makes 
C
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We introduced Zelle®, providing our customers with 
a fast, safe and easy way to send and receive personal 
payments in October 2020. In the first three months, 
new users are outpacing previous person-to-person 
payment system enrollments significantly. This 
solution puts our offering on par with leading large 
commercial banks. 

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Over 3,500 new customers signed up for Mobile 
Banking; Unity customers now have over 20,000 
enabled devices using personal and business mobile 
banking. Adoption of eco-friendly eStatements 
continued in 2020. 

TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE 
INVESTMENTS PROVIDED NEW TOOLS 
AND ENHANCEMENTS FOR EMPLOYEES 
TO SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS.

Our business online banking application was 
upgraded with an improved user interface. Strong 
adoption continues for Card Control, which offers 
fraud protection and real-time alerts. This product 
has seen over 3,000 new enrollments in the first year, 
validating our customers approval of added security 
offerings. Mobile Deposit usage has doubled in the 
past 24 months and temporary replacement debit 
cards were made available at all branches.

Empowering employees with the secure 
technology needed to succeed.

We have taken extensive actions to enhance our BSA 
(Bank Secrecy Act) department. We added additional 
human resources, automation and risk mitigations 
by upgrading our current software. We continue to 

 
 
upgrade our policy and procedures in 
the BSA and RISK area to strengthen 
the banks BSA program. We engaged 
consultants to help us ensure that the project is 
completed in an effective manner. 

Technology infrastructure investments provided 
new tools and enhancements for employees to serve 
our customers. Microsoft Teams was adopted, providing 
a virtual collaboration platform facilitating real-time 
collaboration for both onsite and remote workforces.

In order to better support remote work abilities for 
our Unity Bank employees, investments in virtual 
collaboration hardware were implemented. Abrigo, our 
loan origination system launched in 2019, continues to 
show agility in adapting to the SBA Paycheck Protection 
Program guidelines to offer our small business customers a 
streamlined approach for application through forgiveness. 

The pandemic brought substantial increase to an already 
high cyber threat environment. Investments were made 
to systems in order to enhance cyber security mitigations. 
Unity Bank continues to monitor all industry cyber security 
alerts, trends including Cybersecurity and Infrastructure 
Security Agency (CISA) and Information Systems Audit 
and Control Association (ISACA) guidance. Recent events 
in the news, related to cyber security and “Supply Chain 
Attacks” involving SolarWinds were carefully monitored 
and reviewed. Unity Bank does not utilize SolarWinds 
products internally. 

Unity Bank is committed to its technology investments in 
order to provide sound information security practices and 
an excellent customer experience.

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2020 challenged the bank to support the 
community in new, innovative ways. The 
pandemic stifled community fundraising events 
and created a greater need for necessities, like 
financial stability, food and shelter, throughout 
our footprint.

THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL SERVICE PROJECT 
REACHED MORE LIVES THAN EVER 

As the pandemic gained momentum, a 
donation was made to the Hunterdon 
Healthcare Foundation to create a free-standing 
Respiratory Illness Center to triage patients with 
Coronavirus. Unity continued its commitment 
throughout the year donating over $165,000 
to local non-profits and community events. 
Efforts included donating meals to frontline 
healthcare workers and supporting Hunterdon 
Strong, a telethon designed to raise funding 
for local non-profits serving our community. 
Unity Bank switched gears to host its Annual 
Charity Car Show virtually. The car show raised 
funds for the Family Promise of Hunterdon 
and Warren Counties, organizations that help 
homeless community members find sustainable 
independence.  

 
 
 
$34,200

2020

$28,500

2019

$22,800

$22,100

2018

2017

$18,700

2016

In 2020, the Bank strengthened their relationship with 
America’s Grow-A-Row, a nonprofit organization that fights 
food insecurity in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. 
Through the season, Unity sent volunteers to plant and 
harvest produce in the fields and increased its financial 
contribution to the organization as the need for food grew 
across the community. The Bank also pledged $25,000 of 
support and monthly volunteers during the 2021 season.  

This year’s annual service project reached more lives than 
ever before. Every year, Unity employees donate to the local 
Food Banks through voluntary payroll deductions and Unity 
matches the total donation at the end of the year. Over the 
past 5 years, the donations have almost doubled. In 2020, 
$34,200 was disbursed between 19 local food banks. 

The bank will continue in its commitment to uplift the 
community it serves in the years to come.

Small Business is BIG here is our mantra. In 2020, the bank recognized an 
increased need to support local businesses. Our marketing efforts shifted 
to help our business customers and we embraced the federal Paycheck 
Protection Program (PPP). We processed over 1,200 PPP loans in the first 
round and are working on another 900 in round 2.  

Supporting Small 
Businesses Makes 
a BIG Difference

Our fall billboard campaign featured 
messaging of “Supporting Small Businesses 
Makes a BIG Difference” and “Small 
Businesses need BIG Support.” We 
partnered with NJ Advanced Media to 
offer free advertisement for our customers 
in the business industries hit hardest by 
the pandemic. Ads appeared in local 
newspapers and digital properties. This 
program was designed to help draw 
customers back into businesses and to 
connect personally with our business 
customers to let them know we are there to 
support them and see them through these uncertain times. We are dedicated 
to the economic recovery of small businesses within our footprint and will 
continue our efforts in 2021 and beyond.  

support
SMALL BUSINESSES

CLINTON, NJ
908-735-0402

unitybank.com

     EQUAL HOUSING LENDER  |  MEMBER FDIC

Executive & Senior Management

James Hughes
President
Chief Executive Officer

Luisa Franco
First Vice President
BSA/AML/OFAC Officer

Janice Bolomey
Executive Vice President
Chief Administrative Officer/
Director of Sales

Vincent Geraci
First Senior Vice President
Director of Mortgage Lending

John Kauchak
Executive Vice President
Chief Operating Officer

David Bove
Senior Vice President
Chief Technology Officer

Christopher Burke
First Vice President
Senior Portfolio Manager

Laureen Cook
Senior Vice President
Chief Accounting Officer

Michelle Kirmser
First Vice President
General Counsel

Rebecca Kugelman
First Vice President
Deposit Operations Manager

Adam Kuras
First Senior Vice President
Chief Lending Officer

Kenneth Plinio
First Vice President
Mortgage Loan Operations 
Manager

Rosemary Fellner
Senior Vice President
Chief Marketing Officer

Stephen Rooney
Senior Vice President
Chief Credit Officer

Christopher Fenimore
First Vice President
Chief Compliance Officer

Bridget Walsh
First Vice President
Human Resources Director

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Board of Directors

David Dallas
Chairman of the Board
CEO, Dallas Group of America, Inc. 

Allen Tucker 
Vice Chairman of the Board 
Chairman, Tucker Enterprises

Dr. Mark Brody
Director 
Managing Member, Financial Planning 
Analysts, LLC

Wayne Courtright
Director
Retired, Former Banker 

James Hughes
Director
President/CEO, Unity Bank

Peter Maricondo
Director
Retired Financial Consultant

Raj Patel
Director
President/CEO, Raja Group

Donald Souders, Jr. 
Director
Attorney/Partner, Florio Perrucci Steinhardt 
Cappelli Tipton & Taylor

Robert Dallas, II 
Director
President, Dallas Group of America, Inc.

Aaron Tucker
Director
President, Tucker Enterprises

Dr. Mary Gross
Director
Founder, Human Edge Resources, LLC

Shareholder Information

Annual Meeting
Shareholders of Unity Bancorp, Inc. are cordially invited to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. 
The meeting will be held virtually and available at a meeting link. Please see 2021 Unity Bancorp 
Proxy for date and time.

Stock Listing
NASDAQ
Symbol: UNTY

Transfer Agent and Registrar
Computershare, Inc. 
PO Box 30170
College Station, Texas 77842-3170
800.368.5948
Computershare.com

Investor Inquiries
James Hughes
908.713.4306  |  James.Hughes@unitybank.com

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
RSM US LLP
New York, New York

Legal Counsel
Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP
New Brunswick, New Jersey

 
LOCATI ONS

New Jersey
Bergen County: 
4 Emerson Plaza West  Emerson, NJ 07630
475 Franklin Turnpike  Ramsey, NJ 07446

Hunterdon County:
64 Old Highway 22  Clinton, NJ 08809 
157 Main St.  Flemington, NJ 08822
370 Route 22 W.  Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889

Middlesex County: 
1746 Oak Tree Rd.  Edison, NJ 08820

(pictured on cover)

104 Raritan Ave.  Highland Park, NJ 08904
1230 Bound Brook Rd.  Middlesex, NJ 08846
2426 Plainfield Ave.  South Plainfield, NJ 07080

Somerset County:
450 Somerset St.  North Plainfield, NJ 07060
120 Cedar Grove Ln.  Somerset, NJ 08873
12 Mountain Ave.  Somerville, NJ 08876

Union County:
628 North Wood Ave.  Linden, NJ 07036
2222 South Ave.  Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
952 Stuyvesant Ave.  Union, NJ 07083

Warren County: 
1225 Route 22 W.  Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
5 E. Asbury Anderson Rd.  Washington, NJ 07882

Pennsylvania
Northampton County:
2850 Easton Ave.  Bethlehem, PA 18017
1700 Sullivan Trail  Forks, PA 18040

UN ITY  BAN COR P, INC
64 Old Highway 22  Clinton, NJ 08809
unitybank.com  800.618.2265